Burger Baka
It finally came! The event I had been waiting for. Burger Baka is back! I was a hundred percent sure that this event wouldn't happen this year because of covid and also Ibaraki was under a state of emergency. But once the state of emergency was lifted, the organizers of this event went into overdrive and made this event happen. Burger Baka was scheduled for two days this year instead of the usual one. March 20th and 21st. It was my plan to go both days and try as many burgers as I could.
March 20th
Unfortunately, the wife could not join me this year because she was working. I ended up attending this event all by my lonesome. I arrived at the event at around 10:00a.m, which was the time that it started, so that I could beat the crowds and get my burgers early. Burgers for breakfast? Yes please.
Burger Baka was not taking any chances this year. Before you were able to enter the event, you had to wipe your hands with alcohol. Then, the staff would check your temperature. After that, you had to write down your information (name, address, temperature, etc). Finally, you had to use the Amabie application on your mobile phone, which I have no idea what it actually does, but I think it tracks everyone who went to Burger Baka. When you were done with all that, you got a green wristband and you were able to enter.
On this side of the event, we had Back Packer from Mito, Café Diner Kei also from Mito, the renkon give away tent and the MC's tent. The renkon give away was this thing where you scanned a QR code with your mobile phone and you got a free bag of renkon. I had no idea what the QR code was about because I didn't do it. I was here for burgers. Peace Grill is also on this side but didn't come out in the picture.
On this side of the event, we had Cafe Arco-Iris from Mito, Mori-Pan from Kasama, and American Diner Cotton's, I think (in all honesty I didn't visit that tent).
The Burger Baka Man
We come to the man of the hour and the one who made all this possible, James Hideki, the Burger Baka himself. James is a radio personality in Ibaraki and he is the face of Burger Baka. I talked to James a few years back and asked him "why Naka city? Why not Mito or Tsukuba?" He told me that Naka City was his hometown and was glad to do the event there. Plus the park was a really nice area.
During the event, James would come out on the microphone and let us know that we were all burger bakas. Baka means 'idiot" in Japanese, but he let us know he wasn't insulting us. He was just saying that we were crazy for burgers and that is what the event was about. After the welcome speech from James, it was time to get my first burger. I bee lined it to one of my favorite burger yatais in all of Ibaraki.
Peace Grill
I have talked about Peace Grill before and I have always loved their burgers. I have gone so many times that the owner and burger wizard of Peace Grill knows me really well by now. What I love about Peace Grill is, when they show up to an event, they don't just have one or two burgers available like most burger yatais, they have a whole menu ready and a lot of options.
The Menu
Here is the menu from top to bottom, left to right. Bacon Double Cheese Burger, Bacon Cheese Burger, Bacon Pineapple Burger, Teriyaki Bacon Burger, Mushroom Bacon Burger, Mushroom Gorgonzola Burger, Gorgonzola Pineapple Burger, Bacon Gorgonzola Burger, Teriyaki Pineapple Burger, Teriyaki Cheese Burger, Teriyaki Burger, Double Cheese Burger, Jalapeno Cheese Burger, Jalapeno Bacon Burger, Jalapeno Burger, Cheese Pineapple Burger, Cheese Burger, and finally the special of the day, the Teriyaki Renkon Burger.
So many choices, my head was spinning. A line started forming behind me so I made the decision of trying the bacon pineapple burger.
The Bacon Pineapple Burger
The bacon pineapple burger comes with bacon, a big slice of pineapple, lettuce and tomato. When I bit into the burger, the pineapple flavor had not introduced itself yet but the bacon and the buns were great. My second bite finally got a mix of the patty and the pineapple. The sweet and meaty flavors mixed together were very interesting and delicious. I ate my burger in glee and was extremely happy that Peace Grill was at this event. Every burger I have ever tried at Peace Grill has been fantastic and this burger is on that list. It was time to move onto another burger shop.
If you want to learn more about Peace Grill, check out their Instagram account:
Mori-Pan
Mori-Pan is a bakery located in Kasama city. I have never been able to go into Mori-Pan because the parking lot is usually full and there is a line out the door. I have heard from a lot of Ibarakians that this bakery is great, but I did not hear anything about any burgers in the bakery. So I was interested in what kind of burger this bakery would cook up.
The Menu
Mori- Pan had two choices during the event. The delicious, huge looking double cheese burger or the delicious looking chili cheese hot dog. I really contemplated getting the hot dog, but I was there for burgers. So I ordered the burger.
I asked the owner if the bakery always made this delicious looking double cheese burger. He explained to me that the bakery didn't, but in the parking lot of the bakery is a small shop that sold the burger and hot dog. So the next time I go to Mori-Pan, I am definitely checking out the small shop to get myself a burger and to try the hot dog.
The Burger
After waiting for a little bit, I finally got my burger. It looked glorious. This burger looked like it was the king of all cheese burgers in Burger Baka. After taking a bite out of the burger, I had to agree that it was. The burger came with two beef patties, a lot of cheese and cheese sauce. The patty was so juicy and the cheese was everywhere which I loved. Two delicious amazing patties with all that cheese. This was a burger from the burger heavens. It was only my second burger but I had to say that this was my favorite burger at Burger Baka.
For more information on Mori-Pan, check out their Facebook page:
Café Arco-Iris
Next, we come to Café Arco-Iris. More people started coming into the event so I was actually in line for quite a while for this burger. It was fine though, I was enjoying my Mori-Pan burger while waiting.
Sausage and Burgers
When I finally got to the front of Café Arco-Iris' yatai, I saw that they were serving burgers and sausages. Both looked great but I decided to grab a burger for myself, the wife and her parents. I ordered four burgers to go. Once I gave my order to the staff, I moved to the grill and talked to the owner while he cooked. I had been to Café Arco-Iris early in the week so the owner knew me. We talked about my visit to his café and he thanked me for buying some many burgers at Burger Baka. Café Arco-Iris is a wonderful café that I will post about next week, so look forward to that. We talked a bit more and then I was given my burgers.
Hitachi Gyu Burger
One thing that is great about Café Arco-Iris is that their patties are Hitachi Gyu (Beef). When you bite into the burger the patty is so soft and delicious, it is pure bliss. The burger comes with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo and onions, lots of onions. The buns are perfect with this burger and go really well with the patty. This burger was great and everyone I gave a burger to later that day agreed. The wife got to have it for lunch and was very happy she did. I will caution that this burger does fall apart easily so make sure you got a good burger grip.
For more information on Café Arco-Iris, check out their Twitter account:
Hey there
I stayed at Burger Baka for about an hour and a half. I wanted to stay longer but unfortunately, I had a family obligation to attend to. I also wanted to try some other burgers but I was so full by then that I was sure nothing else would fit in my stomach for the rest of the day. On my way out, I did meet a stormtrooper. I have no idea why he or she was there, but the stormtrooper posed for photos and livened up the place.
March 21st
This would be the part of the post where I would talk about the next day, March 21st Burger Baka event. Unfortunately I can't, because it was cancelled. I don't know if you remember how Sunday, March 21st's weather was, but it was terrible. A lot of wind and rain. This was an outside event so there was no way it was going to work out with that kind of weather. It was sad when James got on the mike and announced that the Sunday event was cancelled. I was really excited to try Chashu Burger, Chronic Burger and other burger places that were going to attend. Oh well, maybe next year.
I had a great time at Burger Baka this year. I tried some really great burgers, got to talk to the amazing burger chefs at the event, and just had a good time being outside and not cooped up in my apartment all day as usual. Every burger I had was amazing and I was in burger bliss the whole time. If I had to pick a winner for that day, it would be Mori-Pan's delicious double cheese burger. That burger was fantastic and the next time I go to Kasama I am definitely getting it. I enjoyed my burgers from Peace Grill and Café Arco-Iris as well.
I hope that next year, the pandemic will be in our rear view mirror and that Burger Baka will come back so that everyone can enjoy it without fear of corona. If you can attend this event next year and you are a burger lover, it is your duty to come to this event and try the many delicious burgers Ibaraki has to offer. And of course, Ibaraki Eats has you covered. As soon as I get any news on when the next Burger Baka event will be, I will let you know ASAP.
Here is to delicious burgers and a great event. Hopefully, we can all enjoy delicious burgers next year at THE burger event of Ibaraki. Nay, THE burger event of all Japan!!
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